Miami Herald - March 3, 2002
Ana Valdes, avaldes@herald.com

Diagnosed with HIV five years ago, Correa, 52, has come to rely on these services provided through funding from the Medicaid's Project AIDS Care Waiver program.

But on Friday, state budget cuts went into effect, drastically reducing the number of meals, companion programs and various other services that Correa and thousands of clients statewide have been receiving.

"Look at my condition. This is ridiculous," said Correa, holding on to the oxygen tank he brought with him Tuesday to a North Miami protest. "I can't walk. I can't do anything in my house."

With large signs proclaiming "AIDS is not over" and "Silence = Death," case managers, massage therapists, activists and patients like Correa rallied in front of state Sen. Ronald Silver's office, 12000 Biscayne Blvd. They demanded that the Legislature reconsider the cuts.

Silver, D-North Miami, chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, was in Tallahassee during the demonstration. Silver could not be reached for comment.

At issue is Gov. Jeb Bush's budget plan that eliminated $10 million in funds this year for the PAC Waiver program, including a $5 million cut that went into effect Friday. The cuts were implemented to help cover a $1.3 billion shortfall in the state budget.

The result: 14 countywide agencies that provide these services will have less to offer the area's AIDS patients.

Patients, as well as their case managers and fellow activists, worry the program cuts will greatly reduce the quality of the services they depend on to function.

As of Friday, 12 PAC Waiver services were eliminated, including the companionship program, physical therapy, respiratory therapy and substance abuse treatment. Seven other services, such as case management and home delivered meals, were reduced.

Before the cuts, agency patients received seven hours of personal care a week. The budget now allows for five hours a month. Meals totaled 62 a month; now only 27 will be provided.

"They are saying we don't need these programs. I am just blown," said Irma Weathers, a case manager at the Center of Information and Orientation, 181 NE 82nd St., and one of the rally's organizers.

"Our objective is to put a physical face on the cuts," said Luis Penelas, executive director of Union Positiva, a nonprofit HIV prevention organization.

"There are 78,000 people with HIV in Florida. Each has at least one other family member, a significant other or a friend. Those are 156,000 votes that we will use against anybody who is implementing these cuts, whether it's the governor or the Legislature," said Penelas, brother of Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas.

Several AIDS patients at the rally stood before the crowd of about 100 and chanted, "We will be heard" and "Give us hope."

Those with a little more strength shouted and waved up to Silver's windows.

Omar Lasserra, 44, had a sad look on his face throughout the rally.

"I wouldn't be walking if it weren't for this program," said Lasserra, who has lived with HIV for 20 years. "I hope the governor realizes that what they are doing is killing the people."

Weathers said case managers and service providers also will be affected by the cuts. They receive payments from the amount billed for each patient receiving services. Before the cuts, Weathers said, case managers could bill up to $6,000 or $7,000 a month per patient. Now, only $2,000 per month is allowed.

The agencies' maintenance costs have not changed. The case managers are left with reduced payments.

Carol City's Northpointe Center, 21135 NW 37th Ave., is shutting down because of the cuts. The agency provides an adult day-care service for PAC Waiver patients.

"This particular time I have to tell the patients there are no more services. That's like throwing them out to the wolves," Nadine Proctor, the center's director, said. "I don't know how they are going to survive."

The Agency for Health Care Administration sent a letter to all state agencies that provide PAC Waiver services, detailing the exact cuts and the date they would be enforced.

"I wish we wouldn't have to make these cuts. We did the best job we could," Bob Maryanski, AHCA administrator, said.

Maryanski said when the process of reducing and cutting began, the AHCA scheduled phone calls with various agencies to determine which services were most needed in the AIDS community.

"We tried to emphasize as many medical programs as we could. We did not cut any services in pharmacy," he said.

He did, however, support efforts made by the state's 6,600 PAC Waiver clients to show their disapproval of the cuts.

"They need to make their concerns known to the agencies and the legislators. It's good for the Legislature to hear the concerns and what the impact of the cuts are," he said.

Maryanski said he hopes that through good case management, other service providers can be found, either on a paid or voluntary basis.

The AIDS community, however, is going to continue protesting. Fifty-five people have already signed up for a trip to Tallahassee scheduled for March 19, where all Florida agencies are expected to come together.

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